Police found and arrested a man who allegedly set a small quantity of liquid aflame outside the property at around 9:15 p.m., said RCMP Sgt. Marc Menard.

The flames were on the sidewalk outside the gate and were promptly extinguished by the RCMP officers when they arrived, he said.

The suspect did not make it onto the heavily-secured estate, Menard said, adding that the prime minister and his family were never in danger.

“Once the RCMP saw what was going on, it was instantaneous — it was lit and they arrested him right at the scene,” said Ottawa Police Staff Sgt. Michael Haarbosch.

The suspect was later turned over by Mounties to the Ottawa police, who will be conducting a criminal investigation.

“There could be charges specific to possessing an ignitable liquid, or mischief charges potentially,” said Haarbosch.

The suspect, whose name has not yet been released, is scheduled to appear in court Sunday.

Haarbosch said police wouldn't speculate on a possible motive for the incident at this early stage of the investigation.

The incident is reminiscent of a much more serious security scare in 1995, when a knife-wielding man made it into the prime ministerial residence while Jean Chrétien and his wife, Aline, were in their bedroom.

Mrs. Chrétien locked the bedroom door to keep the intruder out and Chrétien had a soapstone carving at hand to protect the couple.

Police arrested the intruder before the prime minister had to spring into action.

- with files from The Canadian Press

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